Landon Hockey 2 DeMatha 3

No doubt about it, the Bears skated of the ice with looks of disappointment. No doubt about it, the home team played well enough to win for 30 minutes. No doubt about it, the Stags used the re-icing time to recharge their batteries; for they scored the tying and go-ahead goals within 0:50 seconds at the beginning of the third period.

Landon scored the first goal @13:11 when Ryan Giles feathered an incredible pass to Drew Wellington who scored from the DM crease. During this period, there was a lot of transitions from end-to-end, but the Bears had more than their fair share of possessions for this 15 minutes. Quick smart passes, intercepting DM passes, initiating good breakouts and good defensive coverage marked the home team’s play.

Ty Morton made 5 saves including a spectacular stop of a Stag from point blank range at 3:40. His teammates put 9 SOGs.

END OF FIRST PERIOD BEARS 1 STAGS 0

A penalty against Landon resulted in a quick visitors’ PP goal at 12:06.

Not much later, the teams set up for a face-off in the circle to the left of the DM goalie. Will Jarrett drew it perfectly back to Tommy Kenary who blasted a shot for a score @8:45.

A critical moment occurred at 2:29; a Stag forward swooped in on Ty and blasted a shot at the Bear goalie who made a brilliant save and Owen Concannon swept the rebound away.

The middle period saw 13 Bear SOGs and Ty turned away 13 Stag shots.

END OF 2^ND PERIOD BEARS 2 STAGS 1

At 14:43 and then 13:33, the Stags scored and took the momentum. Passes which clicked in the 1^st period were whistled for icing. Body check which turned the puck over through the first 30 minutes saw the Stag move through. One v. One’s which Landon won earlier went to the visitors. It seemed as though the DM team was more accustomed to combatting close plays all the way through the 45 minutes. That is not to say that Landon gave up; they continued to battle- but with less success.

Landon SOGs 6 and Ty saves 10.

FINAL SCORE BEARS 2 STAGS 3

If at the beginning season, the coaches predicted that Landon would win 20 games, would be undefeated in IAC regular and tournament seasons and would earn the #2 spot in the MAPHL regular season standings. This was a very good team which benefitted from six exceptional senior leaders and Bears hockey has a bright future.

GO BEARS!!!